Road reflector



Oct. 29, 1963 W p, TOLBERT, 5R 3,108,510

ROAD REFLECTOR Filed bec. 2, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l OC- 29, 1963 w. P. TOLBERT, sR 3,108,510

ROAD REFLECTOR Filed Dec. 2, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. 10 MJI? 55 BY MM altlil RAD REFLIECTR Wiiiiam I. Tolbert, Sr., Fort Madison, iowa, assigner to Anthes Force @iler Company, Fort Madison, iowa, a corporation oi iowa Filed Dec. 2, i959, Ser. No. $56,713

3 Claims. Ci. SSP-'79) This invention relates to signaling devices and is ooncerned more particularly with a portable road flare of the reflector type adapted to be placed on the road as a warning to approaching vehicles, and to a unique assembly ot such road ilares for storing the same in compact form when not in use. (The words road hare are intended as a generic expression for signal devices mounted on or at the side of a road and which, by the direction or reflection of light along the road, act as a warning indication to oncoming drivers.)

llt/Iany designs for road flares of the reflector type have been proposed. They commonly include a base adapted to support stably the ilare upon a ilat road surface and a reflector unit pivotally mounted on the base for movement between a folded position where it extends horizontally along the base and an unfolded, light-reilecting position where the reector unit extends upwardly from the base. In some cases, means are provided for supporting a number of such flares in nestled relation to form a compact assembly. These prior road flares and road flare assemblies leave much to be desired from the standpoints of economy of manufacture, simplicity and compactness of assembly, and the ease and speed with which the flares can be set up into their light-reilecting positions.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a road are having a reflector unit mounted on a base for movement between an upstanding position and a horizontal position in a manner which results in greater compactness and simplicity in construction. Another object of the present invention is to provide a road flare as just described which can be set up quickly and easily in its light-reflecting position.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an assembly of road flares or reflectors as above described which occupy a minimum oi space, so that a of storage space therefor is required. A related object of the invention is to provide a compact yassembly of road ares or reflectors as above described wherein the flares or reilectors are enclosed Within a box which protects the same from dust and dirt, and wherein the box is especially designed for holding the flares or reflectors in a stable aligned relation.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon making reference to the speciiication to follow, the claims and the drawings wherein:

FIG. l is a perspective View of a metal box containing three nestled road flares arranged and constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged transverse vertical section through the assembly of FIG. 1, taken :along section line 2-2 therein;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section through the assembly of FIG. l, taken along section line 3-3 therein;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical section through the assembly of FIG. l, taken along section line lt-. therein;

FIG. 5 is a view showing in solid and dashed lines progressive posi-tions of the reflector portion of one of the road ares in FIGS. 2-4 preparatory to moving it into the final stable upright position thereof shown in FIGS. 6-8;

FIG. 6 is a front View of the road flare of FIG. 5 in its final set up position;

FIG. 7 isa side view of the road ilare shown in FIG. 6;

g arrasar.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the road flare shown in FIG. 6 with a warning ilag supported thereby;

FIG. 9 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary sectional View through the frame or bezel of the reflector portion of the flare shown in FIG. 8, taken along section line 9 9 therein;

FIG. l0 is a perspective view of the foot piece or base of the reilector portion of the flare shown in FIG. 8, with the reflector-holding bezel removed therefrom; and

FIG. ll is a fragmentary View of the bottom portion of the bezel showing the bent position thereof when anchored within one of the openings of the foot piece shown in FIG. l0.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1-4, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a number of road iiares or reilectors 2 are supported in compact nestled relation within a substantially dust proof metal box 1i. r[he box 4 may have an elongated, rectangular open-top box body 5 made from a main sheet metal piece 6 folded to provide a rectangular bottom wall S, a rectangular vertical front wall It), a rectangular vertical rear wall l2 and inwardly extending, narrow end aps i-i, I6 and i3 respectively extending from each end of the aforesaid walls 3, iii and 12 into a common vertical plane. T he ends of the box are closed o by a pair of vertical rectangular end plates ZG-ZG each having depressed perimeters 22 into which extend the associated end flaps 14, I6 and i8, so that the outer surfaces of the end plates Zii-Zii are ush with the outer surfaces of the aforesaid flaps. The end plates Ztl-2i) extend between the inner surfaces of the front and rear walls it? and i2 and rest upon the inner surface of the bottom wall 8. The end plates Ztl- 20 may be anchored to the end ilaps i4, lo and i8 in any suitable way, as by spot welding or the like.

The portion of the depressed perimeter 22 of each end plate Zii over which the associated end llap 13 extends is initially provided with a pair of inwardly extending protuberances 24-24 which provide upwardly facing shoulders located in a common horizontal plane spaced a small distance above the bottom wall 8 of the box.

A strap member Z5 is anchored within the box, the strap member having a bottom, transversely extending, intermediate portion 26 which is secured by rivets 28-28 to the bottom wall 8 of the box, a road ilare aligning front portion 3i) extending upwardly from the front end of the intermediate portion 26 at a point adjacent to but spaced from the front wall iti of the box and a relatively short rear end portion 32 terminating in the same horizontal plane as the tops of the foresaid protuberances .2f-iof end plates 29 of the box. A rearwardly extending protuberance 34 is struck from the road ilare aligning portion Sil of the strap 25 to provide a shoulder located in the latter plane. There is thus provided six level points of support for the bottommost flare or reiiector 2.

The upstanding road flare aligning portion of the strap 25 extends to an elevation above the top of the box, so as to extend through a slot 36 .at the :front end of a rectangular cover 3S which cncloses the open top of the box body 5. The slot 36 is somewhat wider than the strap 25 so that some play exists between the road flare aligning portion 36 of the strap and the slot 36. The cover 33 is provided with front and side depending skirts nl and LiZ-fl-Z which extend over the front `and sides of the box body. The cover is hinged to the rear of the box body by `any suitable means, as by pivot-forming rivets 44--44 passing through the cover skirts i2- 42, the rear wall end flaps lr6-i6 and the end plates 2tl-2tix The cover 38 is most advantageously held in its closed position by means on the top` of the road flare aligning portion 3i) of the strap 25. The last mentioned means preferably comprises rearwardly extending nibs 66 struck from the upper end of the strap so as to engage the outer surface of the cover. Normally, the road' flare aligning portion of the strap lies in a plane slightly rearwardly of the slot 36 in the cover, so that the resiliency of the metal out of which the strap is made will urge the strap nibs 46 into a cover-locking position.

Each of the road flares or reflectors 2 is constructed for maximum compactness and simplicity of construction. To this end, each of the flares comprises la base plate S which preferably comprises Ia rectangular piece of relatively rigid sheet metal or the like having a size smaller than the size of the inside of the rectangular box d, so that it can be inserted easily into the box when held in a horizontal plane. Soft resilient support buttons 5f) `are secured in any suitable way to the bottom of the base plate 48 at the corners thereof, so that the road flares cannot be slid readily about when resting von a flat road surface. A pair of tabs 52--52 are struck upwardly from the opposite longitudinal sides of the base plate 4S at points adjacent to but spaced from one of the ends thereof. A pair of longitudial slots 54-54 are punched from the base plate 48 adjacent the center portion of the longitudinal sides thereof, the slots 54-54 being sized to slidably receive the road flare aligning portion 30 of the strap 25. As will appear, the slots 5ft- 54 have another important function related to the support of the reflector portion of the flare in a stable upright position. A locking tab 5S having a laterally facing hole 55 is struck up from the base plate 4S.

The reflector portion of each flare comprises an integral unit generally indicated by reference numeral 56. The reflector unit has `a bezel `strip 58 which has been folded back on itself and `bent into a shape resembling a figure S having longitudinally spaced annular frame sections 59-59 separated by relatively closely spaced bridging frame sections tEd-6ft. The uppermost frame section 5? is provided with an :outwardly extending loop 61 for reasons to be explained. A pair of reflector elements 62;-62 are mounted in the annular frame sections 59-59- A suitable clamp assembly 63 is provided for drawing together the annular frame sections 59 and 59 around the reflector elements 62-62 to removably retain the same in place within the bezel strip. The clamp assembly 63 may comprise a stud 64 with a rounded head 64 and a. shank 64 which passes through aligned holes in the bridging frame sections 6tI-6G, a clamping plate 65 and a lock washer or other suitable fastener element 66 secured over the end of the stud on the outside of the bezel strip. The head 64' `of the `stud 64 holds la flagreceiving member 68 in place adjacent one of the bridging frame sections 60. The flag-receiving member 68 may comprise a channel shaped member having upper and lower flanges 7t-70 respectively having holes 71--71 aligned along an upwardly and outwardly inclined axis, as shown most clearly in FIGS. 6 and 8. The latter holes are ad-apted to receive the bottom end of the shaft 72 of a flag 73.

The ends of the bezel strip 5S which are located at the bottom end of the reflector unit are provided with slotted tabs 74 which are bent outwardly into locking engagement with the defining walls of a pair of correspondingly shaped T-shaped slots 76 (FIG. 10) formed in the web 78 of a channel shaped foot piece 80. The foot piece Si) has a pair of downwardly extending support legs 82-82 which are made out `of rectangular sheet metal stock having the same cross sectional size andshape as the base plate slots 541-54. The over-all length of the reflector unit 56, including the `foot piece 80, is less than the length of the base plate Sil, and the width of the bezel strip frame is less than the spacing between the tabs 52;-52 for reasons to be explained.

A pair of link arms Sii-84 are pivotally connected as by rivets S6 and 8S between the outer faces of support legs 82-32 of the foot piece titl and the tabs 5?. 52 on the base plate 43. The length of the link arms Srl-3d is less than the distance between the tabs 52h52 and the adjacent end of the base plate 48, so that the link arms are always located within the confines of the base plate. When the link arms are positioned horizontally to extend toward the adjacent end of the base plate, the reflector unit 56 may be folded back into a horizontal position between the base plate tabs SZ-SZ where it extends toward the opposite end of the base plate and is located within the confines of the base plate, as shown in FIG. 3. rThis is the compact folded position of the road flare. To space the reflector elements from the upper surface of the base plate 43 in the folded position of the flare, a spacer tab S9 is struck up from the latter end of the base plate at a point to be engaged by the loop 61 in the bezel strip 58.

The aforesaid locking tab 55 is positioned to pass between the flanges itl-'70 of the flag-holding member 68 and is in the path of movement of the rounded stud head 64 of the stud 64. The rounded head 64 rides over the flat face of the tab 55 and snaps into the tab hole 55 when the reflector unit reaches a horizontal position to lock releasably the reflector unit against the base plate.

When the link arms Slt-84 are moved 180 into their opposite horizontal positions, the ends thereof `are centered `above the base plate slots 54-54 where the ends of the support legs 32-82 of the reflector unit 56 may be placed in vertical alignment with the slots 54-54 when the reflector unit is vertically oriented. Then, the support legs 82-82 can be snapped into the slots 54-54 which locks the reflector unit in its vertical light-reflecting position.

The `best way to set up the road flare from its folded condition shown in FIG. 3 is to pull the reflector unit back to bring it into the vertical position shown in FIG. 5 in solid lines, where the reflector unit extends substantially `at right angles to the link arms 84-84. Then, by first pulling up on the reflector unit, and then pivoting the same in a countercloekwise direction with respect to the link arms (as indicated by the `arrow at the dashed line portion of FIG. 5) while pushing down on the rellector unit, the link arms can be readily moved into the opposite horizontal position shown most clearly in FIGS. 7 and 8 with the reflector unit at right angles thereto. As above indicated, the reflector unit can then be locked into this upright position `by pushing down on the reflector unit to force the support legs to snap into the correspondingly sized `base plate slots SLi- 54. If desired, the signal flag 73 may then be inserted Within the flag-receiving member 68.

The road flares can be readily folded into their folded compact position by reversing the aforesaid set up procedure. Then, they may be inserted one at a time Within the box 4 by slipping them over the road flare aligning portion 3C `of the strap 25, so that the portion 30 passes through one of the correspondingly shaped base plate slots 54 in the road flare, as shown most clearly in FIGS. 2 4.

It is apparent that the road flares of the present invention are of exceedingly compact and simple construction. By the simple arrangement of the link arms 84-84, the reflector unit support legs 'S2-82, the base plate locking tab 55 and the base plate slots SLi- 54, the flares may be readily securely snapped into a stable, vertical, lightreflecting position or into a compact folded position for storage within the box 4. The base plate slots S4, in addition to acting as a means for anchoring the reflector unit in an upright position, slidably receive the road flare aligning portion 39 of the strap 25 Within the box 4 which forms a substantially dust proof container for the road flares, so that they may be ready for immediate effective use when removed from the box.

It should be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the preferred form of the invention described above without deviating from the broader aspects of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A compact assembly of separable road reflectors comprising: Ia reector holder including an open-top box and a cover hinged to one side of the top of the box for covering and uncovering the box, road reeotor aligning means inside the b-ox extending upward yfrom the bottom portion of the box adjacent the side thereof remote from the side to which said cover is hinged and extending to a level above the top of the box, at least two road reflectors nestled in vertically spaced relation within said box, each of said road reflectors comprising a horizontal base plate sized to Itit within the top of said box when held in -a horizontal position, and a reflector unit pivotally supported upon each base plate ttor movement between an upstanding light-reliecting position and a horizontal position where it extends along the base plate, the baseplate of each of said rellectors having an opening corresponding to the shape of said road reector aligning means and positioned to receive the same when oriented in a horizontal position within said box, said cover having an opening therein adapted to receive the top of said road reflector aligning means when the cover is in its closed position, and means on the ftop of said road reilector aligning means for holding the cover in its closed position.

2. A compact assembly of separable road reflectors comprising: a reflector holder including an open-top box and a cover hinged to one side of the top of the box for covering and uncovering the box, resilient road reilector aligning means inside the box extending upward from the bottom portion of the box adjacent the side thereof remote from the side to which said cover is hinged and extending to a level above the top of the box, at least two road reectors nestled in vertically spaced relation within said box, each of said road reflectors comprising a horizontal base plate sized to tit within the top of said box when held in -a horizontal position, and a rellector unit pivotally supported upon leach base plate for movement between an upstanding light-reecting position and a horizontal position where it extends along the base plate, the base plate of each of said reectors having an opening corresponding to the shape of said road reflector aligning means and positioned to receive the same when oriented in la horizontal position Within said box, said box cover having an opening therein adapted to receive the top :of said road reflector aligning means when the cover is in its closed position and said road reilector aligning means is llexed a little `from its normal position, and means on the top of said road reflector aligning means for holding the cover in its closed position, said last-mentioned means comprising laterally projectin-g means which overlap the top of the cover 'when the cover is in a closed position and said road reflector aligning means is allowed to return to its normal position, `and which passes through the cover opening along with the road rellector aligning means when the latter is flexed from said normal position.

3. A compact `assembly of separable road reflectors comprising: a reflector holder including an open-top rectangular box and a cover Ifor covering and uncovering the box, an elongated member in said box `having a road reector aligning portion extending upward from the bottom portion of .the box, an intermediate portion extending transversely of the center portion of the box from the bottom of said road reilector aligning portion and secured to the bottom of the box, and a relatively short end portion extending upwardly tfrom the end of said intermediate portion, said road reflector aligning portion having an inwardly extending protuberance at the level of the top of said relatively short end portion to provide therewith two coplanar support shoulders, said box having adjacent the corner portions thereof inwardly extending shoulders at said level, ia number of road reflectors supported in vertically spaced relation within said box, each of said reflectors comprising a horizontal base plate sized to Iit in said box when oriented in the horizontal position, the base plate of the bottommost reflector resting on the points of support provided by said shoulders, and la reflector unit pivotally supported upon the top of the base for movement between an upstanding light-reilecting position and a horizontal position where it extends along -the top of the associated base plate, each reflector unit having a projecting portion at the bottom thereof, and the associated base plate having at least one opening therein adapted to receive said projecting portion `for holding the rellector unit stably in an upright Aposition when the reector unit is in its npstanding position, the base plate openings of the nestled road reectors being in vertical -alignment and sized and positioned to receive said road reflector -aligning portion of said elongated member to align the reflectors Within the box.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A COMPACT ASSEMBLY OF SEPARABLE ROAD REFLECTORS COMPRISING: A REFLECTOR HOLDER INCLUDING AN OPEN-TOP BOX AND A COVER HINGED TO ONE SIDE OF THE TOP OF THE BOX FOR COVERING AND UNCOVERING THE BOX, ROAD REFLECTOR ALIGNING MEANS INSIDE THE BOX EXTENDING UPWARD FROM THE BOTTOM PORTION OF THE BOX ADJACENT THE SIDE THEREOF REMOTE FROM THE SIDE TO WHICH SAID COVER IS HINGED AND EXTEND ING TO A LEVEL ABOVE THE TOP OF THE BOX, AT LEAST TWO ROAD REFLECTORS NESTLED IN VERTICALLY SPACED RELATION WITHIN SAID BOX, EACH OF SAID ROAD REFLECTORS COMPRISING A HORIZONTAL BASE PLATE SIZED TO FIT WITHIN THE TOP OF SAID BOX WHEN HELD IN A HORIZONTAL POSITION, AND A REFLECTOR UNIT PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED UPON EACH BASE PLATE FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN AN UPSTANDING LIGHT-REFLECTING POSITION AND A HORIZONTAL POSITION WHERE IT EXTENDS ALONG THE BASE PLATE, THE BASEPLATE OF EACH OF SAID REFLECTORS HAVING AN OPENING CORRESPONDING TO THE SHAPE OF SAID ROAD REFLECTOR ALIGNING MEANS AND POSITIONED TO RECEIVE THE SAME WHEN ORIENTED IN A HORIZONTAL POSITION WITHIN SAID BOX, SAID COVER HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE TOP OF SAID ROAD REFLECTOR ALIGNING MEANS WHEN THE COVER IS IN ITS CLOSED POSITION AND MEANS ON THE TOP OF SAID ROAD REFLECTOR ALIGNING MEANS FOR HOLDING THE COVER IN ITS CLOSED POSITION. 